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Trip Reports: Harleyanna and Cynde Loo Hoo's Trip Report Part I
Bonaire Talk: Trip Reports: Archives: Archives 2000 to 2005: Archives - 2003-04-01 to 2004-02-05: Harleyanna and Cynde Loo Hoo's Trip Report Part I
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7451) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 11:20 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Transportation: It took me over 24 hours to get here due to 2 plane mechanical failures, and the need to find 2 planes that worked! However, I arrive safely and that is the important thing!

Day I

Diving: I did my checkout dive with Martin, the DM at Buddy's as I was the only person that day. I told him I didn't get to see any turtles last time, and hoped I would see one this time....

We get geared up, do a giant stride off of Buddy's Dock and wow, I forgot what good visibility was! Our plan was to go over to one of the boats moored and he was going to search for a couple of resident frog fish in about 25 feet of water...then check the current, and go from there...as we swim out and hit the top of the reef...I was once again in awe of the beauty of the marine life on bonaire...I proceeded to take off...about 10 minutes later as I look at my depth age reading 50 feet...I thought "Uh Oh...forgot to look for the frogfish, check the current...and FOLLOW THE DIVE PLAN...Ok, slap my hand please:-) If you want to know what I saw...once again pull out your Humman Reef Book and check about 2/3rds of the fish....

We were at about 50 feet, and Martin motions to look out toward the bottom of the reef....holy moly...a HAWKSBILL TURTLE (visualize me screaming at Martin through my reg here!) We followed him for a while, and I can't tell you how excited I was...of course, no camera! Waaa! He stopped on a sandy patch and began munching on something, so we turned around and headed back to Buddy's....I motioned to Martin to find the frogfish, which he did. One was a baby green one...looked like a piece of coral to me...I couldn't tell which end was which...then he found a larger one that was just hanging....we watched him for a while...then headed back to the dock...all I can say is what a checkout dive!

Karen and Roger Huff came over in the afternoon and we dove small wall...saw a nice big green moray,and of course all the other creatures:-)

Linda gave me the tour of the house and the lists of things to manage the house while they are away.

Picked up Kelly at the airport with Bas and Yana in tow, I took a wrong turn going to the airport, and thanks to Yana, she got me back on track (I really should learn to read dutch traffic signs!)

Day 2

Kelly and I go to Buddy's for her orientation and check out dive...I tried to find the frog fish for her, but couldn't. We take off down the reef...and I know immediately that we are going to be great dive buddies....take our time, look at everything slowly. Saw a couple of big tarpons, huge chubs, all the other usual critters...I looked ahead and saw the biggest puffer I have ever seen...he was at least a foot and half to 2 feet...I hit my tank banger to get Kelly's attention, and she was equally surprised...We tried to closer, but coulnd't catch up...I thought in my head...we can't even catch a puffer!

Gonna fix some breakfast now, will finish this one later:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kelly Lott (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #427) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 11:46 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I arrived only about ahalf hour late to Bonaire, which is amazing considering we had to deplane in Columbus, Ohio, because the weather was so bad in Chicago they wouldn't let us go. Had to wait another hour. Then plane problems in San Juan... am I EVER going to get there??? Met Cheryl and Airey though and they were great, we passed the time chatting.

My check out dive was great. (see above). Afternoon dive was Small Wall (of course). We had a nice, leisurely dive. She is a perfect dive buddy, goes slow so we can see things... I had my camera on this dive. Saw moray, large parrots, Charlotte (!) and queen angelfish and three cowfish, two spotted drums, one juvenile, trunkfish, french angelfish, and the usual other creatures. Said hi at the webcam. Came back, had some wogga wogga then got ready for dinner.

Dara suggested Casablanca, and to say we weren't disappointed would be an understatement. I've never seen so much food! We both got the filet mignon, it wass erved with french fries, rice and a salad, it was more than enough, in fact Cynde is making steak and eggs as I type this. We met the owner, Inez, and she was charming. Cynde said the food was good but we didn't think it was enough, and for a moment I thought the poor woman didn't realize we were kidding and I thought she was going to get MORE! ha ha But it was a great dinner, and very reasonably priced.

Then home to bed as we were both ready to drop.

Today's adventures include a small wall dive shortly after breakfast, then we are going downtown to the Art Show. Then more diving, then dinner. Oh,and watch the sunset, probably from Casa Richter.

I would like to add that Cynde is so much fun. She's adorable,and we laugh all the time. We think alike, dive the same, and have a lot in common. This is just so much fun!

The Richters have a parrot who right now is insistent on sticking her head in my glass of Coke,and gets really mad when I take it away. Very funny.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2457) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 12:35 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sounds like you guys are having a great time and really enjoying each other's company! Good deal!! Where's the rest of the "purple" outfit??? You aren't going to dress up Mandy or Grendel or Blikje, are you??? Oh no....NOT the kids!?? Can't wait to read more reports and hear about more adventures...if you guys have the time. We are living this week vicariously thru the Purple Hat/Diving Divas! Have fun. Carole (Shutterbug)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #309) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 2:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde & Kelly

Keep it coming, we are enjoying the show!!!

Brian & Sue

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greta Badstebner (BonaireTalker - Post #45) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 4:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde, Wasn't that baby green frogfish just too cute? Saw him just last Monday! Saw the big green frogfish too. He posed for my husband who ended up using a whole roll of film on him. We'll get the slides back tomorrow and see how they turned out. Oh, I am so jealous. I know I just had my turn last week, but still! Hey, if you get a chance to take a boat to Klein, there were 3 turtles at Jerry's reef. One was missing its back right foot/fin/leg. Another was buried in some soft coral as I approached unaware of its presence. It suddenly decided to bolt out of there and scared the dickens out of me because it was so close! Exciting!

Kelly, I had that same great dinner at Casablance Sunday night! Went with the Richters. Yes, it is a huge amount of food. I heard the mixed grill is even bigger! Leftovers to take home!

Don't forget to have chocolate molten cake at Pasa Bon Pizza - - Closed Monday & Tuesday - - Plan accordingly!

I think we will all live vicariously through you two ladies during your stay. How long is your stay anyway? Have a great time, no doubt!

One more thing, Are you going to have a webcam on the patio for the BBQ so we can all watch?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Faith M. Senie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #373) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 7:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Don't feel bad, you two -- puffers may look slow and ungainly, but they're really hauling! Sort of like turtles -- they put zero effort into it, and you can't keep up. We've tried to chase down a number of turtles and puffers over the years, and have never managed to do anything other than wear ourselves out completely... :-)

Faith

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7458) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 9:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Greta...I wish I could have found the frogfish for kelly...as for how "cute" the little one was...It just looked like a smigin of green coral to me...never could figure out the shape. If Martin hand't told me it was a frog fish, I would have never known!

We will have to try the ice cream!

Went to the art festival and ate at city cafe...6 amstels and a great dinner for a total of $35.00 buckeroos! Chatted with Dara for a while and bought some of her t-shirts for gifts. Annie and Maggie stopped by to say hi with Jose...it was a mini reunion!

Faith, we were talking to larry of "larry's wild ride" at the art festival and joking about that dang puffer, and he just laughed...said we shouldn't have chased him...he gave us a few good hints on how to get close to critters:-)

(Message edited by cyndelee on July 6, 2003)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb schulherr (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #782) on Sunday, July 6, 2003 - 11:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you chase that big puffer around a bit he may just come over for a good look
puff

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Igor van Riel (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1249) on Monday, July 7, 2003 - 4:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Cynde & Kelly!
Great day-reports! Please keep it up.
Keeps the Bon-Passion flowing...
I do have to say I am not jealous, I repeat I'm NOT jealous....
Hmm that didn't work, sigh ;-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Greta Badstebner (BonaireTalker - Post #49) on Monday, July 7, 2003 - 6:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Cynde, Once you figure out what you're looking at when observing a frogfish, there's no turning back. I've seen several. However, that little green guy/gal was the cutest one of all. Just a baby and so clean. He/She had no rubble on its body as a disguise. I could see its webbed feet and everything so clearly! Just awesome! The big green one was pretty, too, and one of the most easily detected larger frogfish I've seen. If you have time, try to find them again and observe for awhile so you'll know what you're looking at and what to look for in the future. You never know, it might turn into a love affair!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1180) on Monday, July 7, 2003 - 8:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey, I met Cynde and Kelly at Dara's art show..ADORABLE and fun women..I cannot wait for the party...

Winds are decent, have a nice little apt. for Mags and I and well, am loving it so far..

Nice trip report gals...

HUGS

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kay Powers (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #683) on Monday, July 7, 2003 - 11:09 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Annie,

Are you staying or coming back?? I am soooo jealous...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #788) on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 - 9:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Nice to hear from you Annie!! Good luck in staying!!!!!

 


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